Dream Center helps those in need

The Arkansas Dream Center – Heber Springs reaches out to individuals and families in the community by giving them help and hope.

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By Lorie Mink

The Sun-Times - Heber Springs, AR

By Lorie Mink

Posted Nov. 20, 2012 at 3:40 PM
Updated Nov 20, 2012 at 3:43 PM

By Lorie Mink

Posted Nov. 20, 2012 at 3:40 PM
Updated Nov 20, 2012 at 3:43 PM

Heber Springs, Ark.

The Arkansas Dream Center – Heber Springs reaches out to individuals and families in the community by giving them help and hope. A faith-based outreach program, ARDC serves those in the community based on the community’s needs.

Currently, the Dream Center has a building at the Town and Country Mobile Home Park in Heber Springs where they offer free lunches to their Adopt A Block children, offer an after school program that helps children with their homework, a food pantry for families with emergency food needs, resources such as clothes and household items for families in need, and spiritual guidance.

Though born from New Life Church, The Arkansas Dream Center is its own entity and not just a part of the church. “Many businesses, other churches, and the school system have stepped in and helped the center,” Donna Baugh said. “Our purpose is to demonstrate the love of God to the most needy.”

According to Baugh, the Dream Center got a trailer where they felt they could make the most difference. “We see miracles out there,” she said. “There wasn’t a lot of trust in the beginning; the parents were fearful at first.”

But no one with the Dream Center gave up. They continued to be a presence in their adopted neighborhood, ministering to the needs of the people. “We made over 1200 lunches through the summer for the children of the trailer park,” Pastor James Dearmond said. “We found that all that was necessary was to take care of their needs. However, it wasn’t just the food we shared, but our lives as well. It’s all about sharing our lives. There is no difference between our own children and the children of the neighborhood.”

According to Arkansas Dream Center Director Drew Davis, the Dream Center reaches out to the hurting, sees their needs and helps them. “We give them the opportunity to dream,” he said. “Twenty-two percent of Cleburne County residents live below the poverty line. Nearly 50 percent of all boys under five live in poverty. Sixty-four percent of families in poverty are single mom households. It’s time we step out of our comfort zone and go out, identify needs, and serve those needs.” And the Heber Springs Dream Center is taking the serve those in need to heart. They recently held a coat drive for kids in need, are working on their Christmas mall project that allows parents who might not be able to give their children Christmas presents the opportunity to get gifts for their children, and just finished their Thanksgiving outreach program where they provided hams for families that may not have had much of a Thanksgiving meal.

The Dream Center not only operates an emergency food pantry that serves all of Heber Springs and Cleburne County, volunteers also give their time by reading stories, playing games, and hanging out with the children of their adopted neighborhood. They also provide a Saturday outreach each month for the children of their adopted neighborhood. The Dream Center also teaches community adult improvement classes each month ranging from budgeting to interview skills.

Page 2 of 2 - “We are empowering people to have a dream and when they see someone helped them, they go forward and help someone else,” Davis said.

For more information about Arkansas Dream Center – Heber Springs, contact Donna Baugh or Traci Tutor at 501-691-4937 or through email at dbaugh@newlivechurch.tv or tracitutor@yahoo.com. The Dream Center is always in need of volunteers to help the serve the needs of the community.